Big Black Dogs, a Writing Inspiration

The Dogs of Africa, by Jackie Houchin

I’ve just returned from two weeks in Lilongwe, Malawi. Two things I’ve noticed in the four times I have been there is that many American families (teachers, missionaries, administrators) live in “compounds.” Many well-to-do Malawians do too.

These are large houses – really, amazingly so – inside large, high walled yards. Some of these enclosing brick walls sport coiled barbed wire or broken glass on top. All have solid metal sliding gates that are opened only by guards who work in shifts and only for residents and acknowledged visitors. And…. only after the DOGS are chained.

The transition from red-dusty, pot-holed roads to the lush garden interiors of these compounds is quite astonishing. So is the first sight of the…. huge, barking, slavering, jumping against chains, black guard dogs.

Malawi is known as “The Warm Heart of Africa,” and there has never been a war there. So why the over-the-top security? Poverty and hunger. Malawi is now officially the poorest country in the world.

But thank God, this year there was sufficient rain, The maize crop – their main food source – did well. Harvesting had begun in earnest while we were there.

But for the last number of years, many, many people in the villages went hungry. They see (or imagine) the things inside these fortresses as a means to feed themselves and their families. They steal to sell to buy food. Occasionally someone gets hurt if the residents are unexpectedly at home. The intruders’ greatest fear is not the guards, but the dogs. Big dogs. Black dogs. The color is important; they see them as especially evil and powerful.

The first home our visiting short term missions team stayed at had Simba and Samson – father and son Great Dane/Rhodesian Ridgeback mix dogs. Their shoulders are at hip joint level. Their massive heads taller. Their shining fur, black as night.

Once inside the gate and approved by the owners, the dogs are really quite friendly to visitors and buffet each other to get the most petting. They run loose in the compound, and can be seen lazing about on the thick grass under flowering trees or Hibiscus bushes. But let a car toot at the gate, and they pound into action. The guard chains them to the wall near his shack at the gate before rolling it open.

This last trip, we stayed at another home (the family I patterned my MK Stories after). They have been in Malawi only since last summer, but one of the first things they did was to purchase two Great Dane-Shepherd mix pups; black, of course, and big.

Their young children – fans of the Lord of the Rings series – named them Samwise and Frodo. They are only eleven months old and have some puppy ways, but let a horn sound at the gate and they are transformed into something like the Hound of the Baskervilles.

There is one other Big Black Dog that I have met in Malawi. He belongs to a family with three children, who hang on him and throw toys for him to fetch. Grown men who frequent the house are, however, quite fearful of him. I think it’s the eyes, because once a car enters the compound, he is quite silent. He watches, his tail never waging. A silent menace.

The family has a large Kondie – screened patio – at the back of the house where they entertain guests. It’s a great place (free of those pesky, dangerous mosquitoes) to talk while the chicken and beef sizzle on the grill.

Their Big Black Dog will appear silently as you relax and gab, and stare at you through the screen. You think that if you approach him all friendly-like and let him sniff your hand, all will be well. He’ll see you are no threat.

But as you rise and move toward him, a flimsy screen the only barrier separating you, and your eyes meet… he stands and growls deep in his throat and lifts a lip to show long canine teeth. His stiff-legged stance and erect tail warn of horrors to come should you venture closer.

You back away slowly and he stops. Eventually, as you sit down, he turns and resumes his guard duty around the house and other buildings. You notice sweat at your temples and armpits although it’s a fairly cool evening. Eventually your heart beat slows.

When it’s time to leave, the gate guard whistles for the Big Black Dog and secures him to the sturdy chain. Safe inside your car you drive slowly through the gate. “Killer” – as you have dubbed him – barks viciously and lunges against the chain as you pass. When you turn into the street and the metal gate rattles along the rail and bangs shut, the barking ends.

As the car moves away, you hear the young daughter of the family call the monster for a game of fetch. “Get it!” she shouts, and you hear nails scrape on cement. “Good boy, Sniff.”

Sniff??

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Author: photojaq

First, I am a believer in Jesus Christ, so my views and opinions are filtered through what God's Word says and I believe. I'm a wife (50 years in Feb/2014), a mom, and a grandma. I write articles and reviews, and I sometimes dabble in short fiction. I enjoy living near the ocean, doing gardening (for beauty and food) and traveling - in other countries, if possible. And...I like kittens and cats.
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10 thoughts on “Big Black Dogs, a Writing Inspiration”

Interesting insight into Malawi–well, and much of the world actually. For our writing, it points out to me once again how one’s vantage point in life determines how you see the world, and in turn effects your writing, (and your life! of course). Obvious, I guess.

I’ve so far never met a dog I didn’t like–wonder what I’d think about these dogs????

Once these dogs met you as friends, there would be no problem. BUT… I am always cautious around Sniff. Maybe because he is only one dog (his brother died as a puppy), he feels like he needs to make up for it with fierceness.

In my latest book, SECOND CHANCE, Chance McCoy encounters a lot of human bodyguards around some of the people with whom he comes in contact. He calls them Rottweilers or Bulldogs. Even he knows the reputation of those working dogs. I tried to tell our dogs that some dogs actually work, but they said “work” was one of those offensive four-letter words and then ignored me. Good study of the life in Malawi. Your MK stories are always very interesting.

Really interesting depiction of life in Malawi, Jackie–in your usual vivid style, too. I liked your story also–great job of conveying a kid’s point of view.

I had two solid-black German shepherds many years ago. They came from a fellow who raised dogs for the Sheriff’s Department, and they were VERY protective–but friendly with people if I said it was OK. I would walk them on a coupler, and people would cross the street rather than pass us on the sidewalk. It was the eyes: you couldn’t read their expression because of their dark eyes and all that black fur. I always felt safe with them around.

Fascinating look into another world. You made the compound come alive with your description. And those dogs – I can picture them staring down strangers. Your post left me curious to know more about the country. Please consider writing about Malawi again.

First of all I want to say superb blog! I had a quick question that I’d like to ask if
you don’t mind. I was curious to find out
how you center yourself and clear your mind before writing.
I’ve had a hard time clearing my mind in getting my thoughts out there.
I truly do take pleasure in writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes tend to be lost simply just trying
to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or hints? Appreciate it!

Hi Tahlia.
Thank you for reading and commenting on my blog post. To answer your question, I usually think about what I’m going to write way before sitting down at the keyboard. I toss an idea around in my mind as I go about my life for a day – or maybe much more – so when I sit down I have a pretty good idea what I want to say. In fact, it’s almost as if I HAVE to write it because it’s taking over my thoughts. Sometimes I do a bit of writing with a pen and paper to get the order down of the things I want to say. Then I sit down and type.

BUT… just know that that first draft is not what usually comes out on the blog. After I write the piece, I “massage” it by cutting, using different words or phrases, and rearranging things sometimes. Then I read it to myself and maybe do a bit more editing.

I usually know how I want to end a piece. THAT thought often comes at the very beginning of my thought process as I go about my daily life things thinking how to get to that end. In this blog post, I wanted to show that ferocious dog with the ridiculously gentle name, so I worked toward that, setting up general information, then some specifics, then going really detailed with that particular dog.

I hope this helps. My advice would be for you to THINK ABOUT what you want to write for a while before sitting down to type. Then, it’s almost as if you can’t wait to write it.
Jackie